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An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar

Publication ,  Conference
Stump, E; Reichman, D; Collins, LM; Malof, JM
Published in: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
January 1, 2019

In this work we consider the problem of developing algorithms for the automatic detection of buried threats in handheld Ground Penetrating Radar (HH-GPR) data. The development of algorithms for HH-GPR is relatively nascent compared to larger downward-looking GPR (DL-GPR) systems. A large number of buried threat detection (BTD) algorithms have been developed for DL-GPR systems. Given the similarities between DL-GPR data and HHGPR data, effective BTD algorithm designs may be similar for both modalities. In this work we explore the application of successful class of DL-GPR-based algorithms to HH-GPR data. In particular, we consider the class of algorithms that are based upon gradient-based features, such as histogram-of-oriented gradients (HOG) and edge histogram descriptors. We apply a generic gradient-based feature with a support vector machine to a large dataset of HH-GPR data with known buried threat locations. We measure the detection performance of the algorithm as we vary several important design parameters of the feature, and identify those designs that yield the best performance. The results suggest that the design of the gradient histogram (GH) feature has a substantial impact on its performance. We find that a tuned GH algorithm yields substantially-better performance, but ultimately performs similarly to the energy-based detector. This suggests that GH-based features may not be beneficial for HH-GPR data, or that further innovation will be needed to achieve benefits.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

DOI

EISSN

1996-756X

ISSN

0277-786X

ISBN

9781510626898

Publication Date

January 1, 2019

Volume

11012

Related Subject Headings

  • 5102 Atomic, molecular and optical physics
  • 4009 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware
  • 4006 Communications engineering
 

Citation

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Stump, E., Reichman, D., Collins, L. M., & Malof, J. M. (2019). An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar. In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering (Vol. 11012). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519949
Stump, E., D. Reichman, L. M. Collins, and J. M. Malof. “An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar.” In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 11012, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519949.
Stump E, Reichman D, Collins LM, Malof JM. An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar. In: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. 2019.
Stump, E., et al. “An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar.” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 11012, 2019. Scopus, doi:10.1117/12.2519949.
Stump E, Reichman D, Collins LM, Malof JM. An exploration of gradient-based features for buried threat detection using a handheld ground penetrating radar. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. 2019.

Published In

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

DOI

EISSN

1996-756X

ISSN

0277-786X

ISBN

9781510626898

Publication Date

January 1, 2019

Volume

11012

Related Subject Headings

  • 5102 Atomic, molecular and optical physics
  • 4009 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware
  • 4006 Communications engineering